Donald Trump takes aim at ‘angry’ Greta Thunberg’s claim she was kidnapped by Israeli forces

Donald Trump has unleashed on Greta Thunberg after her so-called “Freedom Flotilla” loaded with humanitarian aid was seized by Israeli commandos as it tried to break through a blockade of Gaza.

The US President said the notorious activist needed to go to an “anger management” class.

Ms Thunberg, 22, is being held in an Israeli detention camp with a number of others where they will be held until they face court, according to her lawyer.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has said that passengers on what it calls the “Selfie Yacht” will be returned to their home countries. Anyone who refused to sign deportation documents and leave Israel would be brought before a judicial authority.

Mr Trump was clearly unimpressed with Ms Thunberg’s claim she had been “kidnapped” when asked about the incident.

“Well, she’s a strange person,” Mr Trump said.

“She’s a young, angry person. I don’t know if it’s real anger – it’s hard to believe actually. But I saw what happened. She’s certainly different. Anger management. I think she has to go to an anger management class. That’s my primary recommendation for her.

“She said she was kidnapped by Israel? I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg,” Mr Trump said.

Ms Thunberg was on board a vessel named Madleen, which was planning to deliver aid to people in Gaza after setting sail from Sicily, when Israeli forces boarded it.

In a video released after her arrest Ms Thunberg said: “My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,” the Swedish activist said.

After being taken into custody Ms Thunberg and other activists refused to watch a 45-minute video of the Hamas atrocities committed during the October 7, 2023 attack.

“Greta (Thunberg) and her flotilla companions were taken into a room upon their arrival for a screening of the horror film of the October 7 massacre, and when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching,” Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

“The antisemitic flotilla members are turning a blind eye to the truth and have proven once again that they prefer the murderers to the murdered and continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, adults, and children,” he added.

David Mencer, a spokesperson fro the Israeli government, said Thunberg’s actions were “publicity stunt”, more about raising her profile than providing aid to Palestinians.

“Greta wasn’t bringing aid, she was bringing herself,” he said.

“And she’s not here for Gaza; let’s be blunt about it, she’s here for Greta.

“She’s alienated half the world with her crying wolf and now she’s looking for her next bandwagon. This was a PR stunt sailing under the flag of moral vanity.”